Is your neighborhood in need of a slide? How about some swings? How about $15,000 to help make that playground a reality?

The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and KaBoom!, a national organization promoting fun and healthy play for kids, especially through playgrounds, are looking for needy communities to help in their quest to spread the joy of playgrounds.

The organizations are providing $15,000 grants to help fund equipment for communities "with a demonstrated need for a playground, as well as the project’s impact on the area and its capacity to engage the community."

In addition to the $15,000, the grantees will also receive help in planning, executing and mainting their playgrounds from KaBoom! and some of their alumni who have also recieved grants for playgrounds in the past.

Congratulations goes to Piper and Jacob for winning the last two spots, and go on to have a chance at winning a weekend of accommodations at a Kimpton hotel, two year’s worth of dog treats, and, of course, guaranteed spot in next year’s Kent & Alan Wiener Dog Races.

At 6:30 p.m., children's author Polly Horvath reads from "Northward to the Moon," the much-anticipated sequel to "My One Hundred Adventures."

Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.

Also at 6:30 p.m., there will be a discussion on the Persian Gulf, the fifth in the series Great Decisions 2010, a national civic-education program to learn about and discuss world events. Reigstration for this event is requested. Call 684-4089 to register.